plate no. 3387

The girl cutting apple

Andre Derain, 1938

oilNeoclassicismgenre paintingfigureapplesstill lifetableknifepitcher

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, still life arrangement, and creating depth through value and color temperature. It also provides practice in rendering skin tones and simple drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: figure, table, pitcher, and apples, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted green and brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figure, table, and objects, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the shapes and values of the figure, paying attention to the light and shadow on the face and hands.
step 05
Develop the still life elements, focusing on the highlights and shadows on the apples and pitcher.
step 06
Add details to the drapery and clothing, using subtle variations in color and value.
step 07
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting, paying attention to the overall harmony.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · Prussian blue · cadmium red light

Mix muted greens for the background by combining raw umber, yellow ochre, and a touch of Prussian blue. Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, titanium white, and small amounts of cadmium red light and raw umber.

techniques

·underpainting
·blocking in
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt sienna, Prussian blue, cadmium red light)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife